The progressive research trends in the development of low-cost, commercially competitive solid oxide fuel cells with reduced operating temperatures are closely linked to the search for new functional materials as well as technologies to improve the properties of established materials traditionally used in high-temperature devices. Significant efforts are being made to improve air electrodes, which significantly contribute to the degradation of cell performance due to low oxygen reduction reaction kinetics at reduced temperatures. The present review summarizes the basic information on the methods to improve the electrochemical performance of conventional air electrodes with perovskite structure, such as lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) and lanthanum strontium cobaltite ferrite (LSCF), to make them suitable for application in second generation electrochemical cells operating at medium and low temperatures. In addition, the information presented in this review may serve as a background for further implementation of developed electrode modification technologies involving novel, recently investigated electrode materials.
Keywords: LSCF; LSM; SOFC; air electrode; cathode; collector layer; composite electrode; conductivity; infiltration.